Good morning, Grand Rapids. This is Calder News - the newsletter for busy Grand Rapids locals who are looking to close out the week and dive into the weekend.

But before you quiet quit for the rest of the work day…

Here’s what is in today’s news:

• 🌈 Northern lights take the skies

• 📩 Voting ballot errors for Plainfield residents

• 🚦 GR’s Traffic cameras don’t do anything?

Let's get into it …

Northern Lights Take The Skies

The northern lights are expected to light up the skies tonight. According to the Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC), the northern lights should appear across Michigan’s skies tonight and tomorrow night.

(While I barely understand this) here’s what’s up…

• On October 1st, the SWPC recorded one of the strongest solar flares that Earth has seen since last May

• The energy from that solar flare was strong enough to produce a geomagnetic storm (or aurora/ northern lights) that will be observable from the U.P to southern parts of Michigan

What does that mean for you? The strength of the solar flare isn’t strong enough to impact people, but it could affect some of your equipment like high-frequency radios and GPS systems. However, it’s predicted that any disruptions that occur won’t be too noticeable.

How to view the northern lights - The northern lights are expected to be “dim” in our part of Michigan, so you’ll need to be in a dark place (around 10 PM - 2 AM) where you can see north and or south. For more advice read the SWPC’s viewing guide.

Note: There are also apps you can download that could help you view the aurora - Google is your friend here. I’m already out of my depth.

What’s Happening

Housing | New housing to hit NE GR: A Cascade area developer has proposed a plan to build a 72-unit rental complex on Plainfield (specifically the corner of Coit and Plainfield). The proposal is the first new housing proposed on Plainfield since 2021 — which if approved could bring the $15.9M project to the neighborhood by late 2026.

Voting | GR residents received invalid ballots: Around 3% of Plainfield Township absentee voters (hundreds of people) will be receiving reprinted ballots via mail after a printing error caused them to receive ballots from the wrong precinct. None of the incorrect ballots were for military or overseas voters. If you’re voting absentee, double-check your ballots!

Great Lakes | Mapping the Great Lakes: A Michigan company (Great Lakes Observing System) is looking to map the bottom of the Great Lakes. The goal is to pinpoint underwater shipwrecks and locate infrastructure so ships can avoid hazards, find fisheries, and track erosion. Sounds wonky, but the idea is gaining traffic as two congressional representatives have introduced a bill that could allocate $200M to map the lakes by 2030.

Traffic | Grand Rapids traffic cameras don’t do what you think: Turns out Grand Rapids traffic cameras cannot track speeders or red-light runners. According to the GR Traffic Management Center, city traffic cameras cannot take pictures of license plates and they don’t record traffic violations — why? There’s a Michigan law that banned automatic enforcement, meaning red light, speed, and parking cameras are against the law. Do what you will with that information… 👀 

Events

Today

• 3rd Annual Golf Scramble | Thornapple Pointe Golf Club | 9 AM - 3:30 PM | $125 | Includes games, 50/50 raffle, silent auction, donuts, coffee, and a cookout after

• Eastern Floral Fall Fest Tent Sale | Eastern Floral | 9 AM - 5:30 PM | Free

• Friday Friday | Linc Community Revitalization | 5:30 PM - 10 PM | Free (adults only) | Network, enjoy music, and food in a free community gathering full of professionals

• Haunted Holmdene Tours | Aquinas College | 6 PM - 6:30 PM | $10 | Join an experienced guide and go over the ghost stories of the 116-year-old Holmdene Manor at Aquinas College

• Cloud Making Class | 40 Monroe Center #103 | 6 PM - 8 PM | $30 | Learn how to make mini decorative clouds with Alex Brenda

• Opening Event: Lee Alexander McQueen + Ann Ray Rendez Vous | GRAM | 7PM - 9 PM | Attendance is free for members

• Pulaski Days (view for all details) | Throughout GR | Starts today - ends Sunday) Pulaski Days celebration includes a parade, polka mass, polish food, eating contests, live music, and more

Saturday

• Riverside Parkrun | Riverside Park | 9 AM - 10:30 AM | Free | Walk, run, jog, or sit down and cheer on the community running a 5K

• Patterson Ice Center Open Skate | Patterson Ice Center | 1 PM - 3 PM | Free | Celebrate Patterson’s Ice Center’s 30th year of operations with a free community open skate

• Trick or Treat Trail | Lamar Park | 4 PM - 6 PM | Free | Bring your kids and go for a trick or treat trail adventure (local businesses and orgs will pass out candies)

  Grand Rapids Ballet Gala | Grand Rapids Public Museum | 6 PM | Pricing varies | An exclusive event that begins with a cocktail hour, moves into a dinner, and ends with dancing

• Paint & Sip (Foggy Mountains) | Brush Studio | 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM | $38 | Relax before the work week starts with a friendly outing or date night paint and sip

• Kentwood Glow in the Park | Pinewood Park | 7 PM - 9 PM | $5 | Enjoy a night of glowing-themed activities at Pinewood Park

Sunday

• Southeast Area Farmers Market | 1200 MLK Jr ST SE | 11 AM - 4 PM | Free | Shop with a variety of local farmers selling produce, kitchen foods, and crafts

• Ashley’s Annual Veteran Celebration | Hudsonville Fairgrounds | 12 PM - 4 PM | Free

• Halloween Bash | Fulton ST Market | 3 PM - 7 PM | Free | Check out vendors while taking in local foods, live music, and entertainment.

• IPW Powerplay (wrestling) | Patterson Ice Center | $30 Front row (kids discounted) | Witness professional wrestlers, take pictures with them, and enter free contests

Plus some of this weekend’s ongoing events…

• Coopersville & Marne Railway Pumpkin Train | 311 Danforth Coopersville | Sat + Sun | $30 - $45 | Take a 90min vintage train ride through fall and pick free pumpkins with your kids at the end

• Downtown Grandville Beer Garden | Grandville Commons | Fri, 5 PM-10 PM + Sat, 11 AM - 4 PM | $6 ticket

• Note: All weekend admission to GR Art and Public Museums is free for anyone with Bank of America

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That’s a wrap. See ya again on Monday! 👋 

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